Fire Testing of Building Materials

Element specializes in comprehensive testing of passive fire protection products and building materials to determine their fire resistance and reaction-to-fire properties. Our capabilities extend to evaluating how these products perform during actual fire conditions, giving you confidence in their safety and compliance. We evaluate everything from structural elements to specialized components, providing detailed analysis of their behavior in fire scenarios.

• Fire doors and fire-rated glazing
• Separating elements and fire-stopping products
• Suspended ceilings and steel beams
• Loadbearing and non-loadbearing elements
• Shutter assemblies and ducts & dampers
• Cable systems & associated components
• Smoke extraction & ventilation ducts
• Smoke curtains & components
• Intumescent seals

Our extensive fire testing capabilities give you complete confidence in your building materials' performance. We provide both fire resistance testing for passive fire protection products and reaction-to-fire testing to evaluate material behaviors during fire events. Our comprehensive evaluation methods assess every aspect of fire performance from ignition characteristics to smoke development, ensuring thorough understanding of how your products will respond in real-world fire scenarios.

In addition to fire resistance testing, we offer reaction to fire testing to the following procedures:

• Surface flammability using Steiner Tunnel Testing
• Heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate using Cone Calorimetry
• Critical radiant flux using the Flooring Radiant Panel Testing
• Non-combustibility testing
• Smolder resistance testing
• Large scale room reference test for surface products
• Ignitability
• Flame spread, dripping test
• Single Burning Item (SBI)
• Horizontal surface spread of flame of floor-coverings
• Determination of the Gross Heat Of Combustion (Calorific Value)
• Flammability of materials
• Combustion of Plastics (Oxygen Index) Oxygen-Index-Test (LOI)
• Fire Behavior of Building Materials, Elements and Components
• Smoke Development
• Fire Propagation
• Surface Spread of Flame
• Roofing Test with Burning Brands, Wind and Supplementary Radiant Heat
• External Fire Exposure of Roofs and Roof Coverings
• Room Corner Test for Wall and Ceiling Lining Products
• Fire Tests for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish
• Thermal Insulating Materials for Building Applications  

Your unique testing needs are met with our flexible, tailored approach. We develop custom test plans for non-standard materials and complex applications, providing solutions that address your specific challenges. Our testing methodologies comply with stringent international standards while adapting to your particular requirements. For long-term projects, we offer future-proofing strategies to help you navigate evolving regulations, ensuring continued compliance throughout your project lifecycle.

• Tailored test programs for unique products
• On-site testing capabilities with flexible scheduling
• Failure analysis investigations
• Consulting services for complex regulatory requirements
• Future-proofing strategies for long-term projects
• R&D support for product development
• Quality control verification
• Customized solutions for unconventional materials
• Complex application testing

Our state-of-the-art laboratories feature advanced equipment that produces precise, reliable results you can trust. Our testing facilities include specialized instruments for measuring all aspects of material fire performance, from ignition characteristics to smoke production. This technology enables us to provide comprehensive data on your products' behavior under various fire conditions, helping you make informed decisions about material selection and product design.

• Steiner Tunnel apparatus
• Cone Calorimeter
• Flooring Radiant Panel
• Single Burning Item (SBI) equipment
• Oxygen Index testing apparatus
• Room Corner Test facilities
• Non-combustibility testing equipment

Our global network of fire testing laboratories across the UK, Belgium, Canada and Hong Kong specialize in building materials fire testing. Find your nearest location on our Locations Page.